How to Quilt a Spinning Star Pattern

The spinning star quilt can be pieced together with a sewing machine.

The spinning star is a classic quilt pattern, usually combining a medium color fabric with a white background. Create the pattern from pieced fabric blocks that form the illusion of twinkling stars. Once you create the pattern, hand or machine quilting connects the quilt top to a center batting and a quilt back. The pattern is appropriate for any sized quilt, from a baby blanket to a large bed covering. You can make the spinning stars themselves in a variety of sizes.

1

Measure and cut out a 6-inch cardboard square, using a ruler and scissors. Draw a line from the top left corner to the center point on the bottom edge of the square. Cut the line to create two fabric templates.

2

Trace around the small cardboard template four times each on the on the medium fabric with a fabric pencil. Trace around the larger template on the white fabrics. Cut out the shapes with scissors 1/4-inch past the pencil lines.

3

Sew together one dark fabric piece and one white fabric piece to create a 6-inch square, using a sewing machine or a needle and thread, with 1/4-inch straight seams. Repeat this process to create four pieced squares.

4

Sew together the four 6-inch squares to create the spinning star design. Position the darker fabric star points to meet the center points of the side edges of the finished square.

5

Repeat all steps to create additional spinning star squares. Sew the quilt squares together to create the finished quilt top.

6

Cut the quilt batting and muslin to the same size as the quilt top. Layer the quilt top over quilt batting and muslin and attach the three layers with safety pins placed 6-inches apart in all directions. Sew a decorative pattern to connect the three layers with a sewing machine or a needle and thread. Remove the safety pins.

7

Cut white fabric into a 2-inch wide strip that is the length of the perimeter of the quilt for a quilt binding. Sew the binding to the front of the quilt, 1/4-inch from the edge. Turn the binding over 1/2-inch twice and hand stitch it to the back of the quilt.

Things You Will Need

Cardboard

Ruler

Scissors

1/2-yard medium patterned quilt fabric

1/2-yard white quilt fabric

Thread

Sewing machine or needle and thread

1-yard quilt batting

1-yard muslin

Tip

Make all spinning stars in different colored fabrics, if desired.

Warning

Start quilting with a small baby quilt before tackling a large bed quilt.

About the Author

L. Christine Shepard has been a print journalist since 1994, covering news, home improvement, gardening and food for the "Oakland Press," "Rochester Post," "Troy Times" and "Michigan Meetings and Events" magazine. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University and received the Michigan Press Association award for journalism.